How the ingredients in Efalex Vision can help combat AMD & cataracts

The first comprehensive population study looking at the impact of omega-3 LC-PUFAs on cataracts included 71,083 women from the Nurses’ Health Study. They were followed for up to 16 years to examine the association between dietary fat intake and cataract extraction in adult women 1. Dietary fat was assessed by repeated food frequency questionnaires and the incident cases of cataract extraction were determined by a biennial questionnaire. Results: Women in the highest quintile of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid had a 12% lower risk of cataract extraction compared with those in the lowest quintile. Women who ate fish 3 or more times per week had an 11 % lower risk of cataract extraction than did those who consumed fish one or fewer times per week implying that higher intake of DHA and EPA and fish may modestly reduce the risk of cataract.

The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3,654 predominantly Caucasians aged 49+ years near Sydney Australia, and then 2,335 survivors after five years to investigate the relationships between dietary intake at baseline and the five-year incidence of three main types of cataract. 2. Assessments included a food frequency questionnaire at baseline to assess nutrient intakes and lens photography to determine the presence of cataract at baseline and after 5 years. Results: After adjusting for multiple known cataract risk factors, higher dietary intakes of omega-3 LC- PUFA were associated with a reduced incidence of nuclear cataract.

To date, there have been no intervention trials using omega-3 LC-PUFAs to prevent cataracts.

To date, only one preliminary study has looked at the effect of just omega-3 LC-PUFAs on AMD and unfortunately, the study duration may have been too short to provide any meaningful measurement of their effectiveness.

Thirty-eight patients with early stage AMD completed an ophthalmologic examination and serum and red blood cell membranes fatty acid analysis at day 0 and month 6.

Twenty-two patients were orally supplemented with EPA (720 mg/day) and DHA (480 mg/day) during 6 months while 16 patients were followed as controls. Results: There was a significant blood enrichment of EPA and DHA in the treatment group, but there was no significant further development of AMD in either group – indicating that the trial should have continued for a longer period of time.

The AREDS2 is a multi-center, randomized trial designed to assess the effects of oral supplementation of lutein and zeaxanthin and/or omega-3 LC-PUFAs (DHA and EPA) on the progression to advance AMD.

Enrollment concluded in June 2008 and participants will be followed between five and six years.

The association of bilberries and blueberries with eye health and good vision originated as folk medicine. During World War II when British Royal Air Force pilots were on night-time bombing missions they reported that their sight was improved after eating bilberry jam. The purported active ingredient for the beneficial effects of bilberries and blueberries are the anthocyanosides. Recently the trials of bilberry anthocyanosides for effects on night vision have been systematically reviewed. The authors found mixed results.

Since then, one preclinical study reported that bilberry extract prevents lipid oxidation in the eye which helps cataracts2 and two additional preclinical studies have reported that bilberry extract prevents lipid oxidation in the eye which helps prevent AMD 3,4.

It included 17 patients with age-related cataracts who were supplemented with 15 mg lutein or 100 mg alpha-tocopherol or placebo three times a week for up to 2 y.

Results: Serum lutein and its metabolites increased significantly, and visual performance indices including visual acuity and glare sensitivity improved8 . In addition, there was a trend toward a decrease in visual acuity in the placebo group9. No significant side effects or changes in biochemical or hematologic profiles were observed in any of the subjects during the study9.